Jackson Purchase News

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) addressed the Senate floor today regarding President Biden’s handling of the southern border.

“We’re nearing the end of President Biden’s term. And the American people’s patience for his failure to secure our southern border is running thin,” McConnell stated.

McConnell highlighted what he described as alarming statistics under the current administration. “Since the President took office, Customs and Border Protection has seen the highest annual total for border encounters on record. CBP has reported more than 7.8 million encounters with illegal migrants at the southern border. And this doesn’t even count the 1.6 million known gotaways.”

He further emphasized concerns over drug trafficking and national security, citing fentanyl as a primary cause of death among adults aged 18 to 45 and noting an increase in individuals on terror watch lists attempting to cross the border. “Five years ago, CBP didn’t encounter a single individual on the list between southern border ports of entry. Last year, they encountered 169,” he remarked.

McConnell attributed these issues to policy changes by the Biden Administration, including rescinding policies like Remain in Mexico and halting construction of physical barriers at the border.

“Every Senate Democrat voted to let President Biden repeal Title 42, a pandemic-era policy that represented border officials’ only meaningful tool to stem the flow of illegal arrivals,” he added.

He also criticized Vice President Harris for not visiting the border sooner and accused Washington Democrats of failing to acknowledge or address what he called a crisis.

“In some cases, they’ve been left with unimaginable grief – like the family of Laken Riley, the student murdered by a man who shouldn’t have been allowed into the country in the first place,” McConnell said.

McConnell pointed out that Senate Democrats opposed various legislative proposals aimed at tightening immigration enforcement and cooperation between local law enforcement and ICE.

“They’re wondering why left-wing groups are exploiting this crisis to line their own pockets,” he continued.

He concluded by urging immediate action from President Biden: “The solution is a President who’s willing to exercise his authority, to use the tools he already has at his disposal, and to start cleaning up this mess.”

“The American people have every right to expect secure borders, along with safe streets and stable prices,” McConnell asserted before ending his remarks.

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